Leak-stopper.



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D. T. BRAND,-

LEAK STOPPER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I5. 19m

Patented Oct, 29, 1918.

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D. T. BRAND.

LEAK STOPPER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15. 1918.

Patented Oct. 29, 1918.

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LEAK-STOPPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 29, 1918.

Application filed June 15, 1918. Serial No. 240,147.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAWSON T. BRAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chattanooga, in the county of Hamllton and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Leak- Stoppers, of which the following is a spool fication. Y

My invention relatesto a repair shoe or patch for ships, the object being to arrange a patch which can be lowered from the deck of a vessel over the rupture inthe side thereof, and be held firmly in place untll it is possible to make permanent repairs. A further object of my invention is to construct the patch so that there is a space between the patch and the vessel into which concrete or like substance can be poured to more completely seal the rupture.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device as it is suspended from the side of the ship above the water-line;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section showing the patch in place and filled with concrete; 7 t

Fig. 3 is an inside view of the patch showing the many bolt hitches;

Fig. t is a horizontal section on line .44: of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view from the inside showing an interior surface of the side of the hull.

A indicates a side portion of the vessel. B indicates the deck thereof. Arranged along both sides of the side walls A of the vessel and approximately flush with the deck B is a trolley-rail 1. 2 indicates a patch or leak-stopper which consists of a body portion of thin boiler-plate 3, on the outer surface of which longitudinally of its length are arranged a plurality of angle-irons 4, which are of such proportions as to properly stiffen the body of the leak-stopper. 5 indicates a pneumatic tube, which is preferably placed around the margin of the inner surface of the leak-stopper, consisting preferably of an outer casing 6 and an inner tube 7. The outer edges of the outer tube are brought together and secured to the inner surface by suitable fastening means 7 This tube is adapted to be inflated with air to such a pressure as to form a suitable padding, which, when pressure is applied, serves to seal the area around the rupture in the vessel.

Arranged approximately centrally of the body portion of the leak-stopper, and projecting from the inner surface thereof, is a fastening means 8, which is of such a construction as to receive the head of a bolt 9, which is adapted to be passed outwardly through the rupture being sealed from the inside of the ship. Received upon the inner end of the bolt is a bridge 10 which is adapted to straddle the rupture, and in addition to this a cap or crown 11 surrounds the bridge being preferably circular in form and concave in order to form a suitable amount of space between it and the walls of the ship.

Means in the form of a block and tackle 12 are suspended from a trolley 13 mounted upon the rail 1, whereby the leak-stopper is supported when not in use, and also when desired brought into proper position to cover the rupture. Additional ropes 1 1 are adapted. to be secured to the lower corners of the leak-stopper, and are of such a length as to pass around beneath the bow of the boat and upwardly on the opposite side thereby providing means for properly adjusting the leak-stopper over the rupture that is to be closed.

15 indicates a flanged nipple which is secured to the upper portion of the leakstopper, and has connected to the upper end ,thereof a canvas conduit provided at its extreme upper end with a funnel 17 supported in such a manner as to permit a concrete or like sealing material to be poured downwardly through the conduit and into the space between the walls of the ship and the body of the leak-stopper to completely seal the rupture in the wall of the ship.

Projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the body portion of the leak-stopper are a plurality of projecting members 18, provided on their outer edges with suitable apertures 19 which are adapted to receive bolts or other projecting members which serve to form anchors for the leak-stopper when the space between it and the bolt is filled with sealing material, thereby more securely holding the leak-stopper in position.

20 indicates a cable to act as a guide for a wrought-iron pipe to be used in pounding in case the suction of water should be so strong that the weight of the shoe would not be sufficient within itself to maintain the proper position.

When being applied to wooden or steel vessels, should it happen that the rupture is of such an extent that it extends over more than one space of interior framing and the inner metal covering 10 is not of sutlicient size, then timbers may be used as shown in Fig. 5 for draw-bolts and washers in place of the iron bridge and crown, and after all 4 the draw-bolts have been put in position, a suitable housing may be built'therearoun'd of wood, in order to form suitable concrete forms on the inner wall of the vessel.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a very simple and eflicient leak-stopper which can be applied to many different ruptures in the side of a boat, and onewhich does not depend entirely upon the frictional contact of the stopper to the vessel for sealing the rupture. it is to be understood that many slight changes may be made which would yet come within the scope of my i11- ventlon, and therefore I do not wlsh to be hunted to the exact structure herein set forth, but:

Copies of this patent may be obtained for surface with a pneumatic tubingwhereby a space is formed between the wall of the rupture and the leakstopper, adjustable means for suspending the leak-stopper from the upper portion of the vessel, means extending inwardly from the stopper and secured on the inside of the opening, whereby the leakstopper is held in place and means extending above the surface of the water and to the deck of the vessel whereby a suitable sealing means may be fed into the space between the wall and therupture for completely sealing the latter. a i

A leak-stopper comprising a body portion provided along the margin of the inner surface thereof with a pneumatic tube,

whereby a space is formed between the wall of the rupture and the leak-stopper, anchoring means detachably secured to the inner surface of the stopper and. extending through the rupture, a cap received upon the inner end of the anchor, thereby forming a space between the wall and the cap, and

means extending upwardly from the stopper whereby a su table seahng material 1s fed between the 1eak-stopper andthecap where by the rupture is completely sealed. 7 I

4. Means for closing an abrasion in a floating vessel containinga form having a watertight outer edge which is held in close contact with the outer surface of the vessel, and

means for pouring concrete into said form, whereby to fill and seal the. aperture.

In testlmony whereof I affix my s gnature.

DAWSON '1. BRAND.

five cents each, by addressing the flommissionerof Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

